Improvement in carpet-stretchers



L. W. RIVERS.

. CARPET-STRETCHER. 1N0. 130,272. Patented J'uly 25.1876.

WITNESSES W av V monuns.

NPEIERS, PHOTO-LITHDGRAPHEH, WASHINGTQN, D (7.

IE STATES A'IENT r ton.

LEWIS W. RIVERS, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND HANSON J. RIYERS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT .IN CARPET-STRETCHERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 180,272, dated July 25, 1876; application filed June 12, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, LEWIS WALDO RIVERS, of. Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and Territory of Utah, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Carpet-Stretcher,

of which the following is a specification Figure 1 is a side view of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a detail rear view of the swinging arm and jaw.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts;

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved carpet-stretcher which shall be.simple in construction, light, strong, durable, convenient in use, and effective in operation, stretching the carpet tightly, and holding it securely until stay-tacks can be driven.

The invention consists in an improved carpet-stretcher, formed of the U-bar, the stationary j aw, the swinging arm and jaw, the arm or lug, the lever provided with a sharp lower end and with ratchet teeth, and the springpawl, constructed and operating as hereinafter fully described.

A is the U-shaped bar of steel, to the lower arm of which is attached a wide jaw, B, by a dovetailed tongue and groove or other suitable means. To the other arm of the U-bar A is pivoted an arm, 0, to the lower end of which is attached a jaw, D. The faces of the jaws B D are grooved or corrugated to enable them to take a firm hold upon the carpet without tearing it, and the arm 0 is made of such a length that the strain upon the carpetwill draw the said jaws more firmly together.

Upon the bend of the bar A is formed an arm or lug, E, which is slotted to receive the lever F, which is pivoted to it by a pin or bolt. sharp to cause it to enter the floor, so that it will not slip. Upon the forward side of the upper-part of the lever F are formed ratchett'eeth f, to receive the engaging end of pawl G, which is pivoted to the bar A, and is held against the lever F by a spring, 9, that bears against its lower end. I

In using the device, the carpet is placed between the jaws B D, and the lever F is arranged with its sharp lower end resting upon the floor, and its upper part inclining forward over the bar A. The upper end of the lever F is then forced backor from the carpet, which draws the said carpet to its place. When the carpet has been strained sufficiently the pawl G holds the lever in place until the stay-tacks can be driven, the tension of the carpet tending to force the sharp end of the lever-F into the floor as soon as the upper end of said lever has been moved past a vertical line.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent An improved carpet-stretcher, formed of the U-bar A, the stationaryjaw B, the swinging arm and jaw C D, the arm or lug E, the lever F, provided with a sharp lower end and with ratchet-teeth f, and the spring-pawl G g, constructed and operating substantially as herein shown and described.

LEWIS W. RIVERS.

Witnesses:

S. T. LONGSTREET, R. E. AYLEswoR'rH.

The lower end of the lever F is made 

